WARWICK, RI — A Mobil clerk faces felony assault and disorderly conduct charges after using a stool, metal rack and rod to batter a customer bloody Jan. 17, accusing him of shortchanging him $10.99 on a lighter the previous week.
Warwick Police were called to the 91 Veterans Memorial Drive Mobile Station Saturday, Jan. 17 at 11 a.m., for a reported disturbance in progress. According to Officer Brian Holleran’s report, dispatch advised him en route that the caller at the scene reported he had been struck in the head by the clerk after being accused of stealing.
Holleran spoke with the caller at the scene, who was shirtless, and whose head and upper body were bloodied. He was standing next to a Dodge Journey. A black metal rod was on the ground nearby, according to the report. Warwick Fire Rescue personnel arrived and began treating the man for his injuries. Holleran stepped inside.
Inside the store, Holleran saw a collection of broken items along the back left wall. The officer reported overturned and broken stools, and condiments and other merchandise on the floor. He also noted blood splattered on the floor and counter.
Holleran spoke with the clerk, Ahmad Abdelbast Mohammad, 32, of 293 Knollwood Ave., Cranston, RI, who said the previous week, a man had bought a novelty lighter from him. During the purchase, he said, he couldn’t see the price tag on the lighter and asked the man what the price was. The man answered $4, and Mohammad rang up the purchase at that amount. However, he said, he later realized the lighter was priced at $14.99.
That day, he said, he recognized the man in the store and confronted him, asking him to pay the balance of the lighter. The man refused, denying that he had bought the lighter. Mohammad said the customer struck him, starting the fight. During the fight, Mohammad suffered an injury and swelling to his left hand, scratches on his right hand and bruising to the back of his head, which he showed to Holleran.
The injured customer said he had denied being the person who bought the lighter, that it had been another person with him at the time. As they argued, he said, the clerk punched him, starting the fight. He was able to fight his way away from Mohammad, and got into his car. Mohammad followed him outside, opened his car door and continued striking him in the head, the man said. He exited and fought back until police arrived, he said, according to the report.
Felony Assault Arrest Follows Video Review
Holleran contacted the store owner, who granted access to the video surveillance at the store. In the video, Holleran reported, Mohammad punches the customer first, in the face, and as the men fight, Mohammad stands up and hits the customer with a stool, and also strikes him with a metal rack multiple times in the head and back. As the customer leaves the fight and the store, Mohammad follows him outside, according to Holleran’s report.
Holleran arrested Mohammad, charging him with felony assault and/or battery and disorderly conduct. He was released that day on $5,000 Personal Recognizance and scheduled for an April 13 court screening in Third Division District Court.
Author: Rob Borkowski
Rob has worked as reporter and editor for several publications, including The Kent County Daily Times and Coventry Courier, before working for Gatehouse in MA then moving home with Patch Media. Now he's publisher and editor of WarwickPost.com. Contact him at editor@warwickpost.com with tips, press releases, advertising inquiries, and concerns.
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